Critter Cavalry Rescue (CCR) is a 501c3 Non-Profit Rescue Organization
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read and review these frequently asked questions before reaching out to a Critter Cavalry volunteer!
Q: I have a dog with a history of aggression and I'm considering rehoming—can you help?
Probably not. We’re a foster-based, all-volunteer rescue group—not a shelter—and do not have a physical location. Our animals are cared for in private homes, and tax dollars do not fund us. Because of this, we’re not equipped to take in animals with a history of aggression, especially those who may not get along with other pets.
We understand caring for an animal with behavioral challenges can be incredibly stressful. But before you think about rehoming, it's essential to consult a professional trainer or behaviorist who can assess the situation, provide guidance, and determine if your dog may eventually thrive in a new environment. Without this step, safely placing a dog with aggression concerns is extremely difficult and often irresponsible.
While county-run animal control facilities do exist, they are often full and may not have the resources to address behavioral issues. We know this can be a tricky situation. Still, as a private rescue run entirely by volunteers, our capacity is limited, and we are not the right fit for every case—especially those requiring specialized support related to aggression. If training isn't an option for you now. In that case, muzzles are an often essential but overlooked step to ensure immediate protection for you and your family should you have a family pet expressing aggression.
We appreciate your understanding and encourage all pet owners to explore professional resources as the first step toward finding the best outcome for their animals.
Q: I found a dog or cat / I need to surrender my dog or cat—can Critter Cavalry help?
We understand how overwhelming it can be to find a stray or decide to surrender a pet. Critter Cavalry is a foster-based rescue—we do not have a permanent shelter or facility—so our ability to help depends entirely on the availability of foster homes. Critter Cavalry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue run entirely by volunteers. We are a rescue - not a shelter, which means that —every animal in our care lives in the private home of one of our volunteers. We are supported solely through adoption fees and donations, not tax dollars.
If you’ve found a dog or cat: Please report the found pet to your local animal control agency, as this is often the first place an owner will check. Animal Control services are provided at the county level. You can also post on lost-and-found pet pages and community groups to help locate the owner. In Middle Tennessee, your resources are:
- Davidson County, TN: Metro Animal Care and Control – 615-862-7928
- Williamson County, TN: Williamson County Animal Center – 615-790-5590
- Lost & Found Pets Facebook Group for Nashville: Nashville’s Lost and Found Pets
If you need to surrender your dog: We receive more surrender requests than we can accommodate, but we do our best to help when possible. Since we do not have a physical shelter, we rely on available foster homes. We are not an option for an immediate surrender situation. To be considered, please email us with as much detail as possible, including:
- Vaccine status (including rabies, distemper/parvo, and bordetella if known)
- Spay/neuter status
- Behavior with other dogs and cats
- Any known history, such as how long you’ve had the dog, temperament, and reason for surrender
- Photos of the animal
Please be honest and detailed—this helps us determine whether a safe foster match is possible. If your dog has shown any signs of aggression or behavioral issues, it’s critical to consult a professional trainer or behaviorist before attempting to rehome it.
Thank you for your understanding. We are a small, volunteer-run rescue doing our best to help as many animals as we can.
Q: When will I know if my application was approved?
Under normal circumstances, you can expect a CCR volunteer to reach out within a few days. However, please remember that we are a 100% volunteer-supported rescue, and some dogs—especially newly listed or popular puppies—can receive dozens of applications within hours.
While we no longer deal with the COVID surge, our small team works as quickly as possible to review every application thoughtfully. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding if you haven’t heard back within a few days.
Q: How can I increase my chances of getting my application approved?
We do call references, so if you can let your references know that they should expect a phone call from an out-of-town number, that will help us process your application quickly!
Q: Okay, it's been a week, I've talked to all my references, and they haven't heard from you, how do I get in touch?
If it's been a week since you submitted your application and you want to follow up, please email ccrtennessee@gmail.com or ccrnewengland@gmail.com, depending on your location. Please include the name of the animal you are inquiring about in the subject line of your email! Please only email one of our two email addresses.
Q: Do you contact all applicants whether their application is approved or not?
No. We do try, but we're 100% volunteer-supported, so we have to allocate our volunteer time strategically. We can easily receive two dozen applications a day. We apologize for the inconvenience. If an animal that you applied for is no longer listed, then it has been adopted. You can reference your recent application if you wish to use it to apply for a different Critter Cavalry animal.
Q: Where are the animals?
Most dogs are fostered in Tennessee and transported to the Northeast or New England. Are you surprised because you're in the Northeast? We post in all the states (and more) that we drive through our route, where we welcome adopters. Yearly, we adopt over 750-1,200 dogs and cats for families who meet our transport at over 6 locations along our route from Nashville, TN. Animal transport from the south to the north has become relatively common since Hurricane Katrina (2005). Our transport program helps free up valuable space and resources at high-kill shelters in Tennessee and reduce the number of animals euthanized because of local overpopulation. We also do local adoptions in Tennessee.
I'm in the Northeast; if I adopt a dog, when will it arrive? Where?
Our transport usually departs Friday afternoons by 1:00 PM Central Time, with deliveries beginning later that evening. Occasionally, we may leave on Saturday instead—we’ll always confirm the exact date and time with you in advance.
Below are our typical drop-off locations and estimated arrival times (local time):
- 8:00 PM – Ft. Chiswell, VA
- 10:00 PM – Staunton, VA
- 12:00 AM – Hagerstown, MD
- 3:30 AM – Allentown, PA
- 5:30 AM – Suffern, NY
- 7:45 AM – Central Connecticut
Tim leads this 52-hour round trip—husband to our Executive Director—and one of his trusted transport partners. These seasoned animal lovers are pros at what they do. They’ll have all the necessary paperwork and, just as importantly, they’ll treat each animal like their own—with regular potty breaks and a little southern bribery in the form of Publix fried chicken, which has become a beloved tradition among our traveling pups.
We know your momma said never to meet a man in a white van in a parking lot in the middle of the night—especially one who says he has a puppy—but we promise, just this once, it’s totally okay. She doesn’t have to know. 😉
Q: Can I meet the animal first?
The animals are in different foster homes throughout Middle Tennessee. If an approved applicant is willing to drive to the foster home or central location, a meet and greet before an adoption is possible. All approved applicants can talk to the foster parent living with the animal. Of course, it is logical that you want to meet a pet before committing to it. Because we do not have a physical location in the Northeast, out-of-state meet-and-greets do not work for our organization's setup due to the logistics of our group and what's best for our Tennessee animals' mental health and wellness. We are happy to set up Facetime and virtual introductions!
Q: How much is the adoption fee?
Our fees start at $500 for dogs and $300 for cats and can be higher depending on the animal and circumstances for their vetting. All prices cover the health certificate, transportation up to designated drop-off points for families to pick up their pre-adopted animal, spay/neuter, rabies, shots, fecal and deworming, microchip, complete vet check-up, and four-way heartworm test if dogs are older than eight months. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, so although other rescue organizations may have lower rates, these organizations are likely supported by supplemental donations that allow them to offer lower rates.
Q: Can I volunteer to foster, then adopt the animal if I fall in love?
If you are interested in foster to adopt, please complete our adoption application and include this information. Remember that popular dogs (young, healthy, popular breeds) are not often available as a foster to adopt. If a dog has been listed for several months (as indicated in its listing), then the dog may be available as a foster to adopt. The adoption application is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfe4_R4_oAMFT1Y753ubm5-i1Q-ijeHlyM8cdf3nlyZhJezbw/viewform
Q: Do I have to have a fenced-in backyard or work from home?
No. While some rescues require one or both of these scenarios, we do not consider this mandatory for every adoption. We require certain circumstances, like a fenced-in backyard, if the specific animal needs it. If you don't have a fence, please let us know, and we can help you find an animal well-suited to your living circumstances.
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We love our volunteers, foster families, adoptive families, and most importantly our dogs.
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